Maureen Okpe
The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Africa has called on the Lagos State Government to immediately lift the suspension on the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) for Legal Indications, warning that the current ban endangers the lives of women and girls in the state.
The appeal was made on Saturday, as WARDC joined the global community in commemorating World Abortion Day, using the occasion to spotlight the implications of the suspended guidelines on survivors of rape and incest, as well as on maternal health in Nigeria.
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Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of WARDC Africa, said the suspension of the STOP guidelines denies survivors of sexual and gender-based violence access to critical medical services, including safe and legal abortion, which is their right under the law.
According to her, “The suspension undermines efforts to prevent avoidable maternal deaths and continues to subject survivors of rape and incest to the psychological trauma of forced pregnancy.
“This is not only a health issue but a fundamental human rights concern.”
The STOP guidelines were designed to provide a standardized medical framework to guide healthcare professionals in providing safe abortions within the legal indications already permitted in Lagos State. These include cases where a pregnancy threatens the life, physical, or mental health of a woman.
WARDC noted that by suspending the guidelines, the state government leaves healthcare workers without clear direction and women without safe options.
WARDC stressed that for women and girls facing pregnancies from rape or incest, access to safe termination services is essential to preserving their mental health, bodily autonomy, and dignity.
The organization highlighted that unsafe abortion remains a major contributor to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, making it a public health crisis that cannot be ignored.
While calling for urgent action, WARDC commended other states in Nigeria that have made strides in upholding sexual and reproductive health rights through the adoption and implementation of similar guidelines.
They urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to show leadership by reinstating the STOP guidelines in Lagos State and ensuring that medical professionals are empowered to provide life-saving care.
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WARDC emphasized that the conversation around abortion must prioritize women’s lives and health over political or religious sentiments, especially when the law already provides for safe termination in certain conditions.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Lagos State Government and relevant stakeholders to advance the rights and dignity of women and girls across Nigeria.
WARDC is a leading civil rights and feminist organization dedicated to promoting human rights, gender equality, justice, and the rule of law for women and girls in Nigeria.